Do you think that despite the problems the freed slaves were better off than they had been before emancipation

Yes because as a slave you don't even have the freedom to attempt to stand up for yourself. After being emancipated, you at least have the freedom to roam your town or city and get an education even though establishments are segregated. Without being emancipated, they couldn't get as far as the Civil Rights movement and standing up for themselves.

No they were not they were still struggling